Hair transplantation method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A hair transplantation method and apparatus utilizes a robot, which includes a robotic arm, having a hair follicle effector associated with the robotic arm.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This applicationMore than one reissue application has been filed for thereissue of U.S. Pat. No. 7,130,717. The reissue applications areapplication Ser. No. 11/702,485 filed on Feb. 5, 2007, and divisionalapplication Ser. Nos. 12/259,434 (the present application), 12/259,456,and 12/259,482, all filed on Oct. 28, 2008. U.S. Pat. No. 7,130,717 is acontinuation of application Ser. No. 09/774,154, filed Jan. 30, 2001,now U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,746, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/130,877 filed Apr. 23, 1999. aunder 35U.S.C. § 119 to PCT Application PCT/00/10596, filed Apr. 20, 2000.Application Ser. No. 09/774,154 is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for hairtransplantation, and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus forhair transplantation which utilize a robot.

2. Description of the Related Art

Hair transplantation is presently a widely-performed procedure.Typically, it involves implanting many individual hair grafts. Theindividual grafts may be micrografts or minigrafts. In a “Megasession”,or hair transplantation session, a large number of grafts, usually from1000 to 2000 grafts, are implanted. Micrografts may contain one to twohair follicles and minigrafts may contain from three to five hairfollicles Generally, the number of grafts done depends on the degree ofbaldness and density of hair desired for the transplantation.

The transplantation technique generally requires removal of anelliptical-shaped flap of scalp from the occiput, or back of thepatient's head. The tiny micro and/or minigrafts may be removed from theflap of the patient's scalp which has been removed. The incision made toremove the flap is stitched together, and normally leaves awell-concealed scar. The new grafts, which might be micro or mini-graftsare then inserted in very small slits, or openings, formed in thepatient's scalp where it is desired to have the grafts implanted.Usually, the grafts are implanted approximately 1.5 mm from each otherinto the bald area of the patient's scalp to be treated. Generally, theslits, or small openings, formed in the patient's scalp to receive thegrafts, heal very well, normally without leaving any scars.

The Megasession procedure generally takes a complete workday of fromfive to eight hours to complete, depending upon the number of grafts tobe transplanted. Normally, one team of physicians and/or physiciansassistants and/or nurses work together form the micro and/or minigraftsfrom the flap of removed scalp. They carefully trim the flap of scalpinto the desired number of micro and/or minigrafts, each micro and/orminigraft containing at least one hair follicle. This step is generallyreferred to as the harvesting step and requires the use of very sharp,fine knives, or scalpels, and the use of magnification devices, such asmagnifying loops, by the first surgical team. Generally, a secondsurgical team forms the slits, or openings in the patient's scalp whichare to receive the hair grafts, and each hair graft, or plug, isindividually placed within each incision, or opening, by the secondsurgical team. The angle of insertion and the distribution of therecipient sites generally reflects the experience and art of theindividual surgeon performing the procedure.

The disadvantages associated with the foregoing described Megasessionhair transplantation technique, are that it is a long, laborious, andtedious procedure, which may begin at 7:30 am and not be completed until2:00 pm to 5:00 pm, dependent upon the number of grafts, or plugs, to betransplanted and the efficiency of the teams. Furthermore, because ofthe labor intensiveness of the procedure, and the fact that all theindividuals involved in the procedure are highly skilled and welltrained and experienced, the procedure can be a very expensiveprocedure, the cost varying from $2000 to $12,000 dollars or more,dependent upon the number of hair grafts, or plugs, to be implanted.

Accordingly, prior to the development of the present method andapparatus for hair transplantation, there has been no hairtransplantation technique which is not a long, laborious, tedious,uneconomical procedure, and is not overly labor intensive. Therefore,the art has sought a hair transplantation technique which is less long,laborious, tedious, and more economical, and which technique is lesslabor intensive.

The present invention is directed to overcoming, or at least reducingthe effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, the foregoing advantages have beenachieved through the present hair transplantation method and apparatusfor implanting at least one hair follicle into a portion of a patient'sscalp. The hair transplantation apparatus of the present inventionincludes: a robot, including at least one robotic arm having a first endadapted to be disposed adjacent the patient's scalp; a hair follicleeffector associated with the first end of the robotic arm, the roboticarm being adjustably maneuverable so that the hair follicle effector iscapable of being selectably placed proximate the patient's scalp andoperated to implant the at least one hair follicle into a portion of thepatient's scalp; and the hair follicle effector being moved and operatedto implant the at least one hair follicle into a portion of thepatient's scalp. A feature of the present invention is that the hairfollicle effector may be either a single hair follicle insertion devicewhich includes a needle, or a multiple hair follicle insertion devicewhich includes multiple needles.

Another feature of the present invention is that the apparatus mayinclude a video system adapted to be associated with the patient's scalpand adapted to identify at least one location on the scalp where the atleast one hair follicle is to be implanted. The video system may includea camera and a distance measuring device to measure the distance fromthe patient's scalp to the camera. Another feature of the presentinvention is that a plug cutting device may be associated with the firstend of the at least one robotic arm, the plug cutting device beingadapted to remove a plug of the patient's scalp, the plug containing atleast one hair follicle. The plug cutting device may be a single hairfollicle insertion device which includes a needle. Another feature ofthe present invention is that a plug trimming device may be associatedwith the first end of the at least one robotic arm, the plug trimmingdevice being adapted to trim a portion of a flap, removed from thepatient's scalp, into a plurality of plugs of the patient's scalp, eachplug containing at least one hair follicle. An additional feature of thepresent invention includes a stereotactic frame, adapted to bereleaseably secured to the patient's head, for restraining the patient'shead with respect to a stereotactic robot.

In accordance with the invention, the foregoing advantages have alsobeen achieved through the present method for transplanting hair byimplanting at least one hair follicle into a portion of a patient'sscalp, the patient's scalp having a plurality of existing hairfollicles. This aspect of the present invention includes the steps of:providing a robot, the robot including at least one robotic arm, the atleast one robotic arm having a first end; associating a hair follicleeffector with the first end of the robotic arm, the robotic arm beingadjustably maneuverable so that the hair follicle effector is capable ofbeing selectably placed proximate the patient's scalp; loading the hairfollicle effector with at least one existing hair follicle; disposingthe first end of the robotic arm adjacent to the patient's scalp; movingthe hair follicle effector toward the patient's scalp; and operating thehair follicle effector to implant the at least one existing hairfollicle into a portion of the patient's scalp.

Another feature of this aspect of the present invention may include thestep of utilizing as the hair follicle effector either a single hairfollicle insertion device which includes a needle, or a multiple hairfollicle insertion device which includes multiple needles. A furtherfeature of this aspect of the present invention may include, prior toimplanting the at least one existing hair follicle, the steps of:providing a video system; associating the video system with thepatient's scalp; scanning the patient's scalp with the video system todetermine the locations of the existing hair follicles and the locationof the patient's scalp in three dimensions. An additional feature of thepresent invention may include the steps of: utilizing a stereotacticvideo system which includes a camera and a distance measuring sensor;and measuring the distance from the patient's scalp to the camera whilethe patient's scalp is being scanned.

An additional feature of this aspect of the present invention mayinclude the step of determining the angular disposition of the existinghair follicles with respect to the patient's scalp. Another feature ofthis aspect of the present invention may include the step of utilizing asingle hair follicle insertion device, which includes a needle, as theplug cutting device.

Another feature of this aspect of the present invention, prior to theimplantation of the at least one existing hair follicle, may include thesteps of: providing a plug trimming device; associating the plugtrimming device with the first end of the at least one robotic arm;disposing a flap containing a plurality of existing hair follicles,previously removed from the patient's scalp, upon a support surface; andtrimming the flap into a plurality of plugs of the patient's scalp, eachplug containing at least one existing hair follicle. An additionalfeature of this aspect of the present invention may include the steps ofreleaseably securing a stereotactic frame to the patient's head andrestraining the patient's head with respect to a stereotactic robot.

The hair transplantation method and apparatus of the present invention,when compared to previously proposed operating the hair follicleeffector to implant the at least one existing hair follicle into aportion of the patient's scalp hair transplantation methods andapparatus, are believed to have the advantages of providing a shorter,less laborious, less tedious, more economical, and less labor intensivehair transplantation procedure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be best understood by reference to the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear view of a patient's head illustrating anelliptical-shaped piece of scalp having been removed from the occiput,or back of the patient's head;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the flap of scalp removed from thepatient's head of FIG. 1, and illustrating its division into a pluralityof micrografts and minigrafts;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of a patient's head after the elliptical shapedincision has been sutured;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the patient's head of FIG. 1 with a pluralityof hair follicles having been implanted in the patient's scalp;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a hair follicle introducer;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a stereotactic robot, in accordance withone embodiment of the present invention, implanting a hair follicle intothe scalp of the patient of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the patient of FIG. 1 with astereotactic video system associated with the patient's scalp; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a plug cutting device for use in thepresent invention.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by wayof example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It shouldbe understood, however, that the description herein of specificembodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particularforms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover allmodifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spiritand scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In theinterest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation aredescribed in this specification. It will of course be appreciated thatin the development of any such actual embodiment, numerousimplementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve thedevelopers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related andbusiness-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation toanother. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effortmight be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routineundertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit ofthis disclosure.

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, the prior art “Megasession” hairtransplantation technique is illustrated. As seen in FIG. 1, patient 100has hair, or hair follicles, 101, disposed upon the scalp 102 of patient100. In order to obtain the hair follicles 101 for transplantation intothe bald portion 103 of the scalp 102 of patient 100, a surgeontypically removes a elliptical-shaped flap 104 from the patient's scalp102, the flap 104 containing a plurality of existing hair follicles 101.As to hair follicles 101, throughout this written description and theclaims appended hereto, the use of the term “hair follicle” encompassesboth the follicle and the hair shaft disposed within the follicle.

With reference to FIG. 2, a team of technicians, typically cleans theflap 104 and divides flap 104 into a plurality of smaller pieces 105,each piece 105 containing a plurality of hair follicles 101. The team oftechnicians would then trim and divide the smaller pieces 105 into aplurality of grafts, or small plugs, 106. Generally, the grafts, orsmall plugs, 106, are referred to as micrografts, 107 when they containone to two hair follicles 101 and are referred to as “mini-grafts” 108when they contain from three to five hair follicles 101. As illustratedin FIG. 3, the elliptical-shaped incision 110 (FIG. 1) is sutured by thesurgeon in a conventional manner leaving a very fine scar, or no scar,in the back of the head of patient 100.

With reference to FIG. 4, the transplantation of a plurality ofmicrografts 107, and minigrafts 108, is illustrated as having beentransplanted upon the bald portion 103 of the scalp 102 of patient 100.The spacing depicted between the various grafts, or small plugs, isgreatly exaggerated, for ease of illustration. Typically, the grafts107, 108 are spaced approximately 1.5 mm. from each other. As previouslydiscussed, a surgical team performs the transplantation of the grafts107, 108 into the scalp 102 of patient 100. Typically, the surgeon makesa small incision in the desired location in the bald portion 103 of thepatient's scalp 102, and each graft, or plug, 107, 108 is inserted intothe incision. The angle of insertion and the distribution and locationof the incisions normally reflects the experience and art of theindividual surgeon. Typically, the foregoing procedure is performedunder a local anesthetic, and hemostasis, or the prevention and/orstopping of bleeding, is obtained by adding epinephrine to the localanesthetic, as well as by applying manual pressure following thetransplantation, or insertion, of the grafts, or plugs, 107, 108 intothe scalp 102. As previously described, from 1000 to 2000 grafts 107,108 may be transplanted in one surgical session or Megasession.

With reference to FIG. 5, a hair follicle introducer 115 is illustrated.Hair follicle introducer 115 may be a single hair follicle insertiondevice 116, such as that known as a Choi single hair insertioninstrument, or similar instrument, as is known in the art. As will behereinafter described in greater detail, the present invention mayutilize the hair follicle hair introducer 115 of FIG. 5. The single hairfollicle insertion device 116 of FIG. 5 could also be used by thesurgeon in the Megasession transplantation technique illustrated inFIGS. 1-4. The single hair follicle insertion device 116 typicallyincludes a needle 117, as is known in the art, into which is loaded thehair follicle, as is known in the art.

With reference to FIG. 6, the hair transplantation apparatus 200 of thepresent invention for implanting at least one hair follicle 101 into aportion of a patient's scalp 102 is illustrated. The hairtransplantation apparatus 200 generally includes: a stereotactic robot201, having at least one robotic arm 202 and a hair follicle introducer115. Stereotactic robot 201 may be a commercially available stereotacticrobot, such as the NeuroMate Stereotactic Robot manufactured by ImmiMedical Robots of Grenoble, France and sold in the United States by itssubsidiary Innovative Medical Machines International of Wellesley, Mass.Another commercially available stereotactic robot which may be utilizedin the present invention is that designed by Tsubikawa. The NeuroMateStereotactic Robot is illustrated in FIG. 6. Stereotactic robot 201 is acomputer-controlled, image-directed robotic assistant which includesrobotic arm 202 which has a first end 203 adapted to be disposedadjacent the patient's scalp 102. The robotic arm 202 may have aplurality of axes of rotation, associated therewith, robotic arm 202having five axes of rotation, or rotatable joints 205-209. Asillustrated, robotic arm 202 includes two arms members 210, 211,rotatably journaled to each other about rotational axis 206. The firstend 203 of robotic arm 202 includes an instrument holder 212 which isrotatably mounted about axis of rotation 205. The stereotactic robot 201may include a PC compatible work station and image work station 215,which may illustrate the location of the hair follicle introducer 115with respect to the patient's scalp 102 on the screen 216 of the imagework station 215. The movements of robotic arm 202 and the operation ofhair follicle introducer 115 may be controlled by any suitable computersoftware program.

As in the case of any stereotactic procedure, the head of the patient100 must be fixed, or restrained. A conventional stereotactic frame, ora conventional head holder, such as one which makes three point contactwith the patient's head, 220, adapted to be releaseably secured to thepatient's head, for restraining the patient's head with respect to thestereotactic robot 201 may be utilized. In this regard, the stereotacticframe, or head holder, 220 is typically fixedly secured to the operatingroom table 221, and as known in the art, the location and disposition ofthe stereotactic robot 201 with respect to the operating room table 221and frame 220, in three-dimensional space, may be readily determined.Optionally, if desired for increasing the accuracy of apparatus 200, aplurality of fiducial marks may be disposed on the stereotactic frame220, as well as on the patient's head. The location of the patient'shead with respect to the stereotactic frame, or head holder, 220, aswell as the orientation of the stereotactic robot 201 with respect tothe stereotactic frame, or head holder, 220 may then be readilydetermined, as is known in the art. It should be noted that,alternatively, the patient's head could be releaseably secured directlyto the operating room table 221, without the use of a stereotacticframe. So long as there is a fixed, known relationship inthree-dimensional space between stereotactic robot 201 and the patient'shead, apparatus 200 of the present invention may be used.

Still with reference to FIG. 6, the hair follicle introducer 115 may bea single hair follicle insertion device 116 including a single needle117. The hair follicle introducer 115 may be modified to permit it to beoperated by stereotactic robot 201, such as by including a pistondevice, or other operating mechanism (not shown) to operate the plunger118 (FIG. 5) of hair follicle introducer 115,device, a plurality of hairfollicles 101 could be simultaneously implanted into the patient's scalp102. Alternatively, the individual hair follicle insertion devices, suchas hair follicle introducer 115, which are combined to form the multiplehair follicle insertion device, may be actuated sequentially by thestereotactic robot 201, as desired. If single hair follicle insertiondevices 116 are utilized, it would be necessary to reload the singlehair follicle insertion device with a new hair follicle 101 after eachuse of the hair follicle introducer 115, or alternatively, a loaded hairfollicle introducer 115 could be associated, or loaded into the tool, orinstrument, holder 212 at the first end 203 of the robotic arm 202. Byusing a multiple hair follicle insertion device, including multipleneedles, loaded with a plurality of hair follicles, set up, or down,time associated with the use of stereotactic robot 201 is decreased. Aswill be hereinafter described in greater detail, the apparatus 200illustrated in FIG. 6 would be utilized in the present invention when itis desired to utilize stereotactic robot 201 to implant at least onehair follicle 101 into the patient's scalp 102.

Turning now to FIG. 7, a stereotactic video system 300 for use in thepresent invention is illustrated. A portion of the stereotactic videosystem 300 is adapted to be associated with the patient's scalp 102, orhead, and is adapted to identify at least one location on the scalp 102where the at least one hair follicle, or graft, 107, 108 containing theat least one hair follicle 101, is to be implanted. Stereotactic videosystem 300 preferably includes a video camera 301 and a distancemeasuring device 302, for measuring the distance from the patient'sscalp 102 to the camera 301. The stereotactic video system 300 is usedin connection with the stereotactic frame 220 which has been releaseablysecured to the patient's head. The camera 301 is mounted for rotationabout the patient's head via a stereotactic arm 303 having a lengthwhich can be varied and predetermined. The stereotactic video system mayinclude suitable wiring 304 and circuitry contained within a housing305, which is in a signal transmitting relationship with a displaydevice 306. An example of a suitable stereotactic video system 300 foruse in the present invention is that known as the Exoscope, as describedin Chapter 23 of Advanced Neurosurgical Navigation published in 1999 byThieme Medical Publishers, Inc. Whereas the Exoscope is used to view anintracerebral mass, or tumor, located within the patient's head, it canbe modified as hereinafter described, to function with the presentinvention. The viewing equipment, or display device, 306 can includeimages of the patient's scalp as shown at 307, and a graphic depictionof the distance to the patient's scalp 102, as shown at 308.

Stereotactic video system 300 is used in the following manner. Camera301 is moved in controlled arcs across the patient's scalp 102 to mapthe location of existing hair follicles 101 (FIG. 1) on the patients'scalp 102. The distance measuring device 302 may be an infraredmeasuring device 305, or any other suitable device which permits thedistance from the patient's scalp 102 to the camera 301 to be measured.Since the radius of the stereotactic arc being scanned by the movementof the stereotactic arm 303 and the distance from the video camera 301to the patient's scalp 102 are known, it is possible to calculate theposition in three-dimensional space of each point on the surface of thepatient's scalp 102 in three-dimensional space, including the locationand three-dimensional coordinates of each existing hair follicle 101 onthe patient's scalp 102 with respect to the stereotactic frame 220. Athree-dimensional virtual image of the patient's scalp and the locationof each hair follicle may be reconstructed in the computer (not shown)associated with stereotactic video system 300 and the stereotactic robot201 (FIG. 6). For example, the image of the scalp and the hair follicles101 may be viewed as shown at 309. The contour of the patient's scalp102 with respect to the stereotactic frame 220 in three-dimensionalspace is thus determined, as well as the location of existing hairfollicles 101. The three-dimensional virtual image of the patient'sscalp 102 may then be utilized to plan at what locations upon scalp 102,the various grafts, or plugs, 107, 108, will be implanted upon scalp 102of the patient 100 by the stereotactic robot 201.

If desired, the scanning of the patient's scalp 102 and existing hairfollicles 101 may also be performed so as to determine the angulardisposition of each hair follicle 101 with respect to the patient'sscalp 102, including the vector the existing hair follicle 101 isoriented in relation to the patient's scalp 102. This information couldbe utilized, as will be hereinafter described in greater detail, whenthe present invention is utilized to also remove, or harvest, existinghair follicles from the patient's scalp 102, or from flap 104. In thisregard, it is desirable to remove the entire hair follicle, includingthe hair shaft disposed above the patient's scalp 102, as well as thatportion of the hair shaft and follicle disposed beneath the surface ofthe patient's scalp 102. To accomplish this, it is preferable to know atwhat angle the hair follicle, including its hair shaft, is disposed andoriented, both above and below the patient's scalp 102.

With reference to FIG. 8, a graft, or plug, cutting device 400 isillustrated. Plug cutting device 400 may be associated with the firstend 203 of robotic arm 202 of stereotactic robot 201, and is adapted toremove a plug, or graft, 107, 108, of the patient's scalp 102, the plug,or graft, 107, 108 containing at least one hair follicle 101. Plugcutting device 400 may be received within the instrument holder 212 ofstereotactic robot 201. Plug cutting device 400 may include a pluralityof cutting heads 401 associated with the housing 402 and the movement ofwhich are powered by a motor 403. As will be hereinafter described ingreater detail, plug cutting device 400 may be used to remove a plug, orgraft, 107, 108 directly from patient's scalp 102. An example of such aplug cutting device 400 may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,476,864, issuedOct. 16, 1984, which patent is incorporated herein by reference.Alternatively, a single hair follicle insertion device 116, including aneedle 117, could be utilized as the plug cutting device.

As will be described in greater detail, the stereotactic robot 201 maybe provided with a plug trimming device, or fine scalpel (not shown),which could be mounted, or associated, with the first end 203 of roboticarm 202 of stereotactic robot 201. After the flap 104 (FIG. 2) of thepatient's scalp 102 has been surgically removed, the flap 104 could bepositioned upon a suitable support surface, or table, or similar device.The stereotactic video system 300 of FIG. 7 could be utilized to scanthe flap 104 and determine the three-dimensional location of the hairfollicles 101 disposed upon and within flap 104 in three-dimensionalspace with respect to a set of predetermined markers, such as fiducialmarkers, associated with the support surface. The plug trimming device,or scalpel, associated with stereotactic robot 201 could then beutilized to trim the flap 104 into a plurality of plugs, or graft, 107,108, each graft containing at least one existing hair follicle 101. Thegrafts would then later be inserted into a hair follicle introducer,such as hair follicle introducer 115, for implantation into thepatient's scalp 102.

With reference to FIG. 6, the method of the present invention fortransplanting hair will be described. In accordance with one aspect ofthe present invention, the stereotactic robot 201 may be used only toimplant at least one hair follicle 101 contained within a graft 107, 108into a portion of the patient's scalp 102. In this aspect of the presentinvention, the hair follicle introducer 115, as previously described, isloaded with the graft 107, 108 and the hair follicle introducer 115disposed at the first end 203 of the robotic arm 202 of stereotacticrobot 201 is moved toward the patient's scalp 102. The hair follicleintroducer 115 is then operated to implant the at least one existinghair follicle 101 contained in the graft 107, 108 into the patient'sscalp 102. Preferably, the particular location where the hair follicle,or graft 107, 108 is implanted within scalp 102, and the control ofstereotactic robot 201 is determined by the stereotactic video system300 which has previously computed the three-dimensional virtual image ofthe patients's scalp and the location and three-dimensional spacing ofthe existing hair follicles 101 and the desired location of the hairfollicles to be implanted in scalp 102. The surgeon plans on the virtualthree-dimensional image of the patient's scalp where each of the grafts107, 108 is to be implanted. Several methods of planning may usedindividually or in combination. For example, the graft insertion site onthe patient's scalp, and the angle of each of the hair follicles 101contained within grafts 107, 108, may be manually plotted individually.The planning can be computerized either all, or in part. In either case,the new hair line, formed by the transplantation of the hair follicles,is determined by the surgeon. The computer (not shown) associated withstereotactic robot 201 and stereotactic video system 300, can distributethe grafts 107, 108, evenly throughout the bald portion 103 of thepatient's scalp 102, and can plot the individual implantation sites, orlocations, according to selected degrees of randomness. The angle ofinsertion of each hair follicle 101 may be determined for each region ofthe bald portion 103 of the patient's scalp 102, and/or the angle ofinsertion can be gradually adjusted from one region of the patient'sscalp to another. Optionally, the computer (not shown) can display theintended distribution of the existing and transplanted hair follicles asa three-dimensional rendering for final approval of the surgeon and thepatient.

As to the robotic insertion of the grafts 107, 108, into the patient'sscalp 102, the hair follicle introducer 115 may be used tosimultaneously make the necessary slit, or short incision, into thepatient's scalp 102, by use of the needle 117 associated with the hairfollicle introducer. Alternatively, a separate device, such as asuitable scalpel, or laser, could be associated with the stereotacticrobot 201 to make the necessary small opening, incision, or slit in thepatient's scalp which is to receive the graft 107, 108.

Hemostasis, or cessation of bleeding, may be necessary, as in the priorMegasession procedure, and hemostasis may provided such as by injectinga vasoconstrictor along with the local anesthetic at the beginning ofthe procedure, and/or by applying local pressure for several seconds orminutes after the graft 107, 108 is inserted in the patient's scalp. Inorder to minimize bleeding even more, a pneumatic band (not shown) canbe placed around the patient's scalp at the beginning of the procedure.As previously discussed, single hair follicle insertion devices 115 ormultiple hair follicle insertions devices could be utilized aspreviously described. As will be hereinafter discussed, the apparatus200 of the present invention in addition to performing the hairtransplantation method previously described may also be used, ifdesired, to perform additional functions; however, whether or not thefollowing described additional functions are also performed by apparatus200 does not detract from the usefulness of apparatus 200.

If desired, the apparatus 200 of the present invention could also beutilized to trim the flap 104 of the patient's scalp which has beenpreviously removed from the patient. As previously described, a plugtrimming device, or suitable scalpel, can be associated with the firstend 203 of the robotic arm 202 of the stereotactic robot 201. Thesurgeon could mount the flap 104 containing the hair follicles 101 upona suitable support surface. As previously described, after the locationof the existing hair follicles 101 is determined and mapped by thestereotactic video system 300, the plug trimming device, or scalpel,could be operated and controlled by the stereotactic robot 201 to cutthe grafts 107, 108 from the flap 104. Preferably, each graft 107, 108would be cut along the longitudinal axis of the hair shaft of each hairfollicle to minimize damage to the hair shaft and hair follicle. Aspreviously described, if the angular disposition between the hairfollicle and the patient's scalp has been determined the stereotacticvideo system 300, the stereotactic robot 201 may be programmed tooperate the plug trimming device along the longitudinal axis of eachhair follicle 101. Alternatively, a single hair follicle insertiondevice, such as device 116 of FIG. 5, could be utilized as the plugcutting device, whereby the needle 117 would be inserted within flap 104to retrieve a single hair follicle 101, thus simultaneously loading thehair follicle to be implanted into the single hair follicle insertiondevice 116.

Alternatively, if desired, the apparatus 200 of the present inventionmay be utilized to also directly obtain the grafts 107, 108 directlyfrom the patient's scalp 102 without surgically removing flap 104. Inthis regard, as previously described, a plug cutting device 400 (FIG. 8)could be associated with stereotactic robot 201 and the plug cuttingdevice 400 could directly remove the grafts 107, 108, from the patient'sscalp 102. Alternatively, plug cutting device 400 could be a single hairfollicle insertion device 116 (FIG. 5) which includes a needle 117,which could be used to remove the grafts 107, 108, directly from thepatient's scalp 102. As previously described, the patient's scalp isscanned robotically to identify the position of each hair follicle 101and the plug cutting device 400 could be operated to select only everynth hair follicle 101, rather than removing all the hair from a givenlocation, which is comparable to the surgical removal of a flap 104.

As to the transplantation of grafts 107, 108, into the patient's scalp102, it should be noted that the bald portion of the patient's scalp102, or recipient space, 103, can be divided into any number ofindividual areas, each of which can be programmed individually. Therecipient space, or bald area, 103 can overlap areas of existing hair inorder to insert hair follicles 101 to increase the density of hair inthose areas. The density of the transplanted hair follicles can becalculated, depending upon the number of hair follicles to be implanted.The spacing between hair follicles can be done either manually, or thecomputer can generate a random distribution. The angle of insertion maybe determined for each area individually, or the computer can generate aplan to vary the angle of insertion progressively from one side of anarea to the other. If some of the hair follicles to be transplanted arefiner than the other hair follicles, they can be individually identifiedand reserved for insertion at the hair line. A three-dimensionalrendered image simulating the post-operative appearance of the patient'sscalp can be presented prior to hair follicle insertion for approval ofthe surgeon and possibly the patient.

Although the instrument holder 112 illustrated in FIG. 6 is shown toonly hold a single tool, or instrument, such as hair follicle introducer115, it should be noted that a rotating head (not shown) may be utilizedin connection with robotic arm 202 to hold all the desired tools, orinstruments such as scalpel, plug cutting devices, plug trimmingdevices, and hair follicle insertion devices, the rotating head beingsequentially moved, or rotated, to permit the desired tool, orinstrument to be mounted at the first end 203 of robotic arm 202.

The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as theinvention may be modified and practiced in different but equivalentmanners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of theteachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to thedetails of construction or design herein shown, other than as describedin the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particularembodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all suchvariations are considered within the scope and spirit of the invention.Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the claimsbelow.

1. A hair transplantation apparatus for harvesting at least one hairfollicle from a portion of a patient's scalp comprising: a robot,including at least one robotic arm having a first end adapted to bedisposed adjacent the patient's scalp; a hair follicle plug cuttingdevice associated with the first end of the robotic arm, the robotic armbeing adjustably maneuverable so that the plug cutting device is capableof being selectably placed proximate the patient's scalp; and the plugcutting device being operated using a substantially automated process toharvest the at least one hair follicle.
 2. The hair transplantationapparatus of claim 1, wherein the robot is at least a partiallyautomated robot, and the robotic arm is moved to place the plug cuttingdevice proximate the patient's scalp using a substantially automatedprocess.
 3. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 1, wherein theportion of the patient's scalp under consideration is a flap that hasbeen removed from the patient's scalp.
 4. The hair transplantationapparatus of claim 1, wherein the robot is a stereotactic robot.
 5. Thehair transplantation apparatus of claim 4, further comprising aplurality of fiducial marks strategically positioned in relation to thestereotactic robot so that the position of the robotic arm is known inrelation to the patient's scalp.
 6. The hair transplantation apparatusof claim 1, further comprising a video system that includes a camera anda monitor for displaying an image of the portion of patient's scalpunder consideration.
 7. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 6,wherein the video system is used for mapping locations of existing hairfollicles on the portion of the patient's scalp under consideration. 8.The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 7, wherein the video systemis used to determine an angular disposition of the at least one hairfollicle with respect to the patient's scalp.
 9. The hairtransplantation apparatus of claim 6, wherein the video system is usedto create a virtual image of the portion of the patient's scalp underconsideration.
 10. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 9,wherein the video system includes a stereo pair of video cameras, andthe virtual image is created by scanning the patient's scalp using thestereo pair of video cameras.
 11. The hair transplantation apparatus ofclaim 9, wherein the video system includes a video camera and a rangefinder, and the virtual image is created by scanning the patient's scalpusing the video camera and the range finder.
 12. The hairtransplantation apparatus of claim 9, wherein the video system includesat least one camera, and the virtual image is acquired from a series ofstill images taken by the at least one camera at different perspectives.13. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 9, wherein the virtualimage of the portion of the patient's scalp under consideration includesa location and three-dimensional spacing of the at least one hairfollicle to be harvested.
 14. The hair transplantation apparatus ofclaim 13, wherein the robot is at least a partially automated robot, andthe virtual image of the portion of the patient's scalp underconsideration is used to move the robotic arm and place the plug cuttingdevice proximate the patient's scalp using a substantially automatedprocess.
 15. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 13, wherein thevideo system is used to simultaneously display the virtual image and areal-time image of the portion of the patient's scalp underconsideration.
 16. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 1,wherein the hair follicle plug cutting device is operated to harvest afollicular unit.
 17. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 16,wherein the follicular unit includes a single hair follicle.
 18. Thehair transplantation apparatus of claim 16, wherein the follicular unitincludes a plurality of hair follicles.
 19. A hair transplantationapparatus for implanting at least one hair follicle into a portion of apatient's scalp follicles, comprising: a robot, including at least one arobotic arm having a first end adapted to be disposed adjacent thepatient's scalp; and a hair follicle introducer associated with thefirst end of carried by the robotic arm, the robotic arm beingadjustably maneuverable and directed by an imaging system, the imagingsystem being configured to create an image that allows 1) recognizing ahair graft and 2) identifying a hair implantation location that does nothave the hair graft, and so thatdirect the robot to selectively placethe hair follicle introducer is capable of being selectably placedproximate the patient's scalp; and the hair implantation locationidentified with use of the imaging system, and wherein the hair follicleintroducer is configured to be loaded with the at least one hairfollicle and then operated using a substantially automated process toimplant the at least one hair follicle.
 20. The hair transplantationapparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one hair follicle is loadedinto the hair follicle introducer using a substantially automatedprocess.
 21. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 19, wherein therobot is at least a partially automated robot, and the robotic arm ismoved to place the introducer proximate the patient's scalp using asubstantially automated process imaging system comprises a computer. 22.The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 19, wherein the robot is astereotactic robot imaging system comprises a camera.
 23. The hairtransplantation apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a plurality offiducial marks strategically positioned in relation to the stereotacticrobot so that the position of the robotic arm is known in relation tothe patient's scalp.
 24. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 19,further comprising wherein the imaging system is a video system thatincludes a camera and a monitor, and is configured for displaying animage of the portion of patient's scalp under consideration a locationof one or more existing hair follicles and/or a recipient space.
 25. Thehair transplantation apparatus of claim 24, wherein the video system isused for planning a desired location for the at least one hair follicleto be implanted in the portion of the patient's scalp underconsideration.
 26. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 25,wherein, in planning the desired location for the at least one hairfollicle, the video system is used to calculate a distance between aplurality of hair follicles to be implanted in the portion of thepatient's scalp under consideration.
 27. The hair transplantationapparatus of claim 25, wherein, in planning the desired location for theat least one hair follicle, the video system is used to plan generate arandom distribution of a plurality of hair follicles to be implanted.28. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 24, wherein the videosystem is used to determine an angular disposition of the at least onehair follicle with respect to the patient's scalp to be implanted. 29.The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 24, wherein the video systemis used configured to create a virtual real time image of the portion ofthe patient's scalp under consideration location of one or more existinghair follicles and/or hair implantation location.
 30. The hairtransplantation apparatus of claim 2924, wherein the video systemincludes a stereo pair of video cameras, and the a virtual image iscreated by scanning the a patient's scalp using the stereo pair of videocameras.
 31. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 2924, whereinthe video system includes a video camera and a range finder, and the avirtual image is created by scanning the a patient's scalp using thevideo camera and the range finder.
 32. The hair transplantationapparatus of claim 2924, wherein the video system includes at least onecamera, and the a virtual image is acquired from a series of stillimages taken by the at least one camera at different perspectives. 33.The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 2924, wherein the virtualimage of the portion of the patient's scalp under consideration includesa three-dimensional spacing of a the hair implantation location the atleast one hair follicle is to be implanted.
 34. The hair transplantationapparatus of claim 33, wherein the robot is at least a partiallyautomated robot, and the virtual image of the portion of the patient'sscalp under consideration is used to move the robotic arm and place theintroducer proximate the patient's scalp using a substantially automatedprocess.
 35. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 29, wherein thevideo system is used configured to simultaneously display the a virtualimage and a the real-time image of the portion of the patient's scalpunder consideration.
 36. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 19,wherein the at least one hair follicle is implanted in the patient'sscalp at a predetermined depth, and the robot determines when thepredetermined depth is attained using the substantially automatedprocess.
 37. A The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 19, whereinfor implanting at least one hair follicle into a portion of a patient'sscalp comprising: a robot, including at least one robotic arm having afirst end adapted to be disposed adjacent the patient's scalp; a hairfollicle introducer associated with the first end of the robotic arm,the robot being is capable of registering a position of the introducerwith at least a portion of the a patient's scalp under consideration sothat the position of the introducer is known in three-dimensional spacewith respect to the portion of the patient's scalp under consideration,and the robotic arm is moved to place the introducer proximate thepatient's scalp using a substantially automated process; and the hairfollicle introducer is loaded with the at least one hair follicle andthen operated using a substantially automated process to implant the atleast one hair follicle.
 38. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim37, wherein the at least one hair follicle is loaded into the hairfollicle introducer using a substantially automated process.
 39. Thehair transplantation apparatus of claim 37, wherein the robot is astereotactic robot.
 40. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 39,further comprising a plurality of fiducial marks strategicallypositioned in relation to the stereotactic robot so that the position ofthe robotic arm is known in relation to the patient's scalp.
 41. Thehair transplantation apparatus of claim 37, further comprising a videosystem that includes a camera and a monitor for displaying an image ofthe portion of patient's scalp under consideration.
 42. The hairtransplantation apparatus of claim 41, wherein the video system is usedfor planning a desired location for the at least one hair follicle to beimplanted in the portion of the patient's scalp under consideration. 43.The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 42, wherein, in planning thedesired location of the at least one hair follicle, the video system isused to calculate a distance between a plurality of hair follicles to beimplanted in the portion of the patient's scalp under consideration. 44.The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 42, wherein, in planning thedesired location of the at least one hair follicle, the video system isused to plan a random distribution of a plurality of hair follicles. 45.The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 41, wherein the video systemis used to create a virtual image of the portion of the patient's scalpunder consideration.
 46. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 45,wherein the video system includes a stereo pair of video cameras, andthe virtual image is created by scanning the patient's scalp using thestereo pair of video cameras.
 47. The hair transplantation apparatus ofclaim 45, wherein the video system includes a video camera and a rangefinder, and the virtual image is created by scanning the patient's scalpusing the video camera and the range finder.
 48. The hairtransplantation apparatus of claim 45, wherein the video system includesat least one camera, and the virtual image is acquired from a series ofstill images taken by the at least one camera at different perspectives.49. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 45, wherein the virtualimage of the portion of the patient's scalp under consideration includesa three-dimensional spacing of a location the at least one hair follicleis to be implanted.
 50. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 45,wherein the video system is used to simultaneously display the virtualimage and a real-time image of the portion of the patient's scalp underconsideration.
 51. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 37,wherein the at least one hair follicle is implanted in the patient'sscalp at a predetermined depth, and the robot determines when thepredetermined depth is attained using the substantially automatedprocess.
 52. A hair transplantation apparatus for harvesting at leastone hair follicle from a portion of a patient's scalp comprising: arobot, including at least one robotic arm having a first end adapted tobe disposed adjacent the patient's scalp; a hair follicle plug cuttingdevice associated with the first end of the robotic arm, the robot beingcapable of registering a position of the plug cutting device with atleast a portion of the patient's scalp under consideration so that theposition of the plug cutting device is known in three-dimensional spacewith respect to the portion of the patient's scalp under consideration,and the robotic arm is moved to place the plug cutting device proximatethe patient's scalp using a substantially automated process; and theplug cutting device being operated using a substantially automatedprocess to harvest the at least one hair follicle.
 53. The hairtransplantation apparatus of claim 52, wherein the portion of thepatient's scalp under consideration is a flap that has been removed fromthe patient's scalp.
 54. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 52,wherein the robot is a stereotactic robot.
 55. The hair transplantationapparatus of claim 54, further comprising a plurality of fiducial marksstrategically positioned in relation to the stereotactic robot so thatthe position of the robotic arm is known in relation to the patient'sscalp.
 56. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 52, furthercomprising a video system that includes a camera and a monitor fordisplaying an image of the portion of patient's scalp underconsideration.
 57. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 56,wherein the video system is used for mapping locations of existing hairfollicles on the portion of the patient's scalp under consideration. 58.The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 57, wherein the video systemis used to determine the angular disposition of the at least one hairfollicle with respect to the patient's scalp.
 59. The hairtransplantation apparatus of claim 56, wherein the video system is usedto create a virtual image of the portion of the patient's scalp underconsideration.
 60. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 59,wherein the video system includes a stereo pair of video cameras, andthe virtual image is created by scanning the patient's scalp using thestereo pair of video cameras.
 61. The hair transplantation apparatus ofclaim 59, wherein the video system includes a video camera and a rangefinder, and the virtual image is created by scanning the patient's scalpusing the video camera and the range finder.
 62. The hairtransplantation apparatus of claim 59, wherein the video system includesat least one camera, and the virtual image is acquired from a series ofstill images taken by the at least one camera at different perspectives.63. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 59, wherein the virtualimage of the portion of the patient's scalp under consideration includesa location and three-dimensional spacing of the at least one hairfollicle to be harvested.
 64. The hair transplantation apparatus ofclaim 59, wherein the video system is used to simultaneously display thevirtual image and a real-time image of the portion of the patient'sscalp under consideration.
 65. The hair transplantation apparatus ofclaim 52, wherein the hair follicle plug cutting device is operated toharvest a follicular unit.
 66. The hair transplantation apparatus ofclaim 65, wherein the follicular unit includes a single hair follicle.67. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 65, wherein thefollicular unit includes a plurality of hair follicles.
 68. A hairtransplantation apparatus for harvesting at least one hair follicle andimplanting the at least one hair follicles from/into a portion of apatient's scalp respective harvesting and implantation locations,comprising: a robot, including at least one a robotic arm having a firstend adapted to be disposed adjacent the patient's scalp; an instrumentholder associated with the first end of the robotic arm; a hair plugcutting device associated with the instrument holder, the robot roboticarm being adjustably maneuverable so that and directed by an imagingsystem, the imaging system being configured to create an image includingat least one hair follicle recognizable in the image, allow identifyinga location of the at least one hair follicle and to direct the roboticarm based on the hair follicle location identified with use of theimaging system to selectively place the hair plug cutting device iscapable of being selectably placed proximate the patient's scalp; theidentified hair follicle location, the hair plug cutting device beingoperated operable using a substantially automated process to harvest theat least one hair follicle from a first the identified hair folliclelocation of the patient's scalp; and a hair follicle introducerassociated with the instrument holder, the robot robotic arm beingadjustably maneuverable so that the introducer is capable of beingselectably selectively placed proximate the patient's scalp; animplantation location, and the hair follicle introducer being operatedoperable using a substantially automated process to implant the at leastone harvested hair follicle into a second the implantation location ofthe patient's scalp.
 69. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 68,wherein the plug cutting device and the hair follicle introducer are thesame device.
 70. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 68, whereinthe robot is at least a partially automated robot, and the robotic armis moved to place the plug cutting device and the introducer proximatethe patient's scalp using a substantially automated process implantationlocation under control of a computer program.
 71. The hairtransplantation apparatus of claim 68, wherein the robot is astereotactic robot.
 72. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 71,further comprising a plurality of fiducial marks strategicallypositioned in relation to the stereotactic robot so that the position ofthe robotic arm is known in relation to the patient's scalp.
 73. Thehair transplantation apparatus of claim 68, further comprising whereinthe imaging system comprises a video system that includes a camera and amonitor for displaying an image of the portion of patient's scalp underconsideration.
 74. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 73,wherein the video system is used for mapping the first location of thepatient's scalp configured to display an image of the identified hairfollicle location and/or the implantation location.
 75. The hairtransplantation apparatus of claim 74, wherein the video system is usedto determine the angular disposition of the at least one hair folliclewith respect to the patient's scalp.
 76. The hair transplantationapparatus of claim 73, wherein the video system is used for planning thesecond implantation location of the patient's scalp.
 77. The hairtransplantation apparatus of claim 76, wherein, in planning the secondimplantation location, the video system is used to calculate a distancebetween the second implantation location and a plurality of additionallocations in which hair follicles are to be implanted in the patient'sscalp.
 78. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 73, wherein thevideo system is used to create a virtual image of the portion of thepatient's scalp under consideration.
 79. The hair transplantationapparatus of claim 78, wherein the video system includes a stereo pairof video cameras, and the virtual image is created by scanning thepatient's scalp using the stereo pair of video cameras.
 80. The hairtransplantation apparatus of claim 78, wherein the video system includesa video camera and a range finder, and the virtual image is created byscanning the patient's scalp using the video camera and the rangefinder.
 81. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 78, wherein thevideo system includes at least one camera, and the virtual image isacquired from a series of still images taken by the at least one cameraat different perspectives.
 82. The hair transplantation apparatus ofclaim 78, wherein the virtual image of the portion of the patient'sscalp under consideration includes a three-dimensional image of thefirst location of the patient's scalp.
 83. The hair transplantationapparatus of claim 82, wherein the robot is at least a partiallyautomated robot, and the virtual image of the first location is used tomove the robotic arm and place the plug cutting device proximate thepatient's scalp using a substantially automated process.
 84. The hairtransplantation apparatus of claim 78, wherein the virtual image of theportion of the patient's scalp under consideration includes athree-dimensional image of the second location of the patient's scalp.85. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 84, wherein the robot isat least a partially automated robot, and the virtual image of thesecond location is used to move the robotic arm and place the introducerproximate the patient's scalp using a substantially automated process.86. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 78 68, wherein the videoimaging system is used configured to simultaneously display the virtualimage and a real-time image of the portion of the a patient's scalpunder consideration.
 87. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 68,wherein the at least one hair follicle is implanted in the patient'sscalp at a predetermined depth, and the robot determines when thepredetermined depth is attained using the substantially automatedprocess.
 88. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 68, wherein thehair follicle plug cutting device is operated to harvest a follicularunit.
 89. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 88, wherein thefollicular unit includes a single hair follicle.
 90. The hairtransplantation apparatus of claim 88, wherein the follicular unitincludes a plurality of hair follicles.
 91. A hair transplantationapparatus for harvesting at least one hair follicle and implanting theat least one hair follicle from/into a portion of a patient's scalpcomprising: a robot, including at least one robotic arm having a firstend adapted to be disposed adjacent the patient's scalp; an instrumentholder associated with the first end of the robotic arm; a hair follicleplug cutting device associated with the instrument holder, the robotbeing capable of registering a position of the plug cutting device witha first location of the patient's scalp so that the position of the plugcutting device is known in three-dimensional space with respect to thefirst location, and the robotic arm is moved to place the plug cuttingdevice proximate the first location using a substantially automatedprocess; the plug cutting device being operated using a substantiallyautomated process to harvest the at least one hair follicle; a hairfollicle introducer associated with the instrument holder, the robotbeing capable of registering a position of the introducer with a secondlocation of the patient's scalp so that the position of the introduceris known in three-dimensional space with respect to the second location,and the robotic arm is moved to place the introducer proximate thesecond location using a substantially automated process; and the hairfollicle introducer is loaded with the at least one hair follicle andthen operated using a substantially automated process to implant the atleast one hair follicle.
 92. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim91, wherein the plug cutting device and the hair follicle introducer arethe same device.
 93. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 91,wherein the robot is a stereotactic robot.
 94. The hair transplantationapparatus of claim 93, further comprising a plurality of fiducial marksstrategically positioned in relation to the stereotactic robot so thatthe position of the robotic arm is known in relation to the patient'sscalp.
 95. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 91, furthercomprising a video system that includes a camera and a monitor fordisplaying an image of the portion of patient's scalp underconsideration.
 96. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 95,wherein the video system is used for mapping the first location of thepatient's scalp.
 97. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 95,wherein the video system is used for planning the second location of thepatient's scalp.
 98. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 95,wherein the video system is used to create a virtual image of theportion of the patient's scalp under consideration.
 99. The hairtransplantation apparatus of claim 98, wherein the video system includesa stereo pair of video cameras, and the virtual image is created byscanning the patient's scalp using the stereo pair of video cameras.100. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 98, wherein the videosystem includes a video camera and a range finder, and the virtual imageis created by scanning the patient's scalp using the video camera andthe range finder.
 101. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 98,wherein the video system includes at least one camera, and the virtualimage is acquired from a series of still images taken by the at leastone camera at different perspectives.
 102. The hair transplantationapparatus of claim 98, wherein the virtual image of the portion of thepatient's scalp under consideration includes a three-dimensional imageof the first location of the patient's scalp.
 103. The hairtransplantation apparatus of claim 98, wherein the virtual image of theportion of the patient's scalp under consideration includes athree-dimensional image of the second location of the patient's scalp.104. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 98, wherein the videosystem simultaneously displays the virtual image and a real-time imageof the portion of the patient's scalp under consideration.
 105. The hairtransplantation apparatus of claim 91, wherein the at least one hairfollicle is loaded into the hair follicle introducer using asubstantially automated process.
 106. The hair transplantation apparatusof claim 91, wherein the at least one hair follicle is implanted in thepatient's scalp at a predetermined depth, and the robot determines whenthe predetermined depth is attained using the substantially automatedprocess.
 107. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 91, whereinthe hair follicle plug cutting device is operated to harvest afollicular unit.
 108. The hair transplantation apparatus of claim 107,wherein the follicular unit includes a single hair follicle.
 109. Thehair transplantation apparatus of claim 107, wherein the follicular unitincludes a plurality of hair follicles.
 110. A hair implantationapparatus, comprising: a robot; a hair follicle insertion device carriedby the robot and configured to be operated using a substantiallyautomated process to implant one or more hair grafts; and an imagingsystem configured to create an image that allows recognizing a hairgraft and identifying a hair implantation location that does not havethe hair graft, and to direct the robot to selectively position the hairfollicle insertion device proximate the hair implantation locationidentified with use of the imaging system.
 111. The apparatus of claim110, wherein the robot is computer-controlled.
 112. The apparatus ofclaim 110, wherein operation of the hair follicle insertion device iscomputer-controlled.
 113. The apparatus of claim 110, further comprisinga plurality of fiducial marks.
 114. The apparatus of claim 110, whereinthe imaging system is configured to provide a 3D image of one or moreexisting hair follicles.
 115. The apparatus of claim 110, wherein theimaging system is configured to allow identifying a location of one ormore hair follicles and calculating three-dimensional coordinates of theone or more hair follicles.
 116. The apparatus of claim 110, wherein thehair follicle insertion device comprises a scalpel.
 117. The apparatusof claim 110, wherein the hair follicle insertion device comprises atleast one needle.
 118. The apparatus of claim 110, wherein the imagingsystem is configured to allow planning the hair implantation location.119. The apparatus of claim 118, wherein the location planning is atleast partially computerized.
 120. The apparatus of claim 118, whereinthe location planning comprises plotting individual implantation sitesaccording to one or more of selected degrees of randomness or an angleof insertion.
 121. The apparatus of claim 110, further comprising a hairharvesting tool maneuverable by a robot to harvest hair grafts.
 122. Theapparatus of claim 121, wherein the hair harvesting tool and the hairfollicle insertion device are the same device.
 123. The apparatus ofclaim 110, wherein the apparatus is further configured to perform one ormore of mapping locations of existing hair follicles, determining anangular disposition of existing hair follicles, or determining anangular disposition of at least one hair graft to be implanted.
 124. Theapparatus of claim 110, wherein the imaging system comprises a computer.125. The apparatus of claim 110, wherein the imaging system is a videoimaging system comprising a camera.
 126. The apparatus of claim 110,wherein the imaging system comprises a display, the imaging system beingconfigured to display an image simulating a post-operative appearance ofa recipient space.
 127. The apparatus of claim 110, wherein the imagingsystem simultaneously displays a virtual image and a real-time image ofthe hair implantation location.
 128. The apparatus of claim 110, whereinthe imaging system is configured to create a real time image of alocation of one or more existing hair follicles and/or the hairimplantation location and to direct the robot to implant the one or morehair grafts based on the real time image.
 129. A hair implantationapparatus, comprising: a robot directed by an imaging system, theimaging system being configured to allow planning an implantationlocation for one or more hair grafts to be implanted, wherein thelocation planning comprises plotting individual hair implantation sitesaccording to selected degrees of randomness; and a hair follicleinsertion device carried and maneuverable by the robot to be selectivelypositioned proximate the hair implantation location and configured to beoperated using a substantially automated process to implant the one ormore hair grafts into the hair implantation location.
 130. The apparatusof claim 110, wherein the imaging system is configured to determinespacing between the one or more hair grafts.
 131. The apparatus of claim110, wherein the imaging system is configured to scan a bald area and/orone or more existing hair follicles.